I just finished my re-watch of Buffy Season 7

It was only my second time watching all of these episodes-- the first time being my sophomore year of college, when things were so hectic. We'd all pile into Rac's family room on Pennsylvania Avenue with boxes of pizza or makeshift potlucks, and ooh and ahh as a group. This watch was very different-- generally just me, alone. And that's okay, because I definitely caught things this time around that I hadn't the first time.

I think the best parts, for me, were the combined senses of coming home to the high-school metaphor, which felt so much like the Buffy I fell in love with, and the depth of breaking new ground on the Slayer mythos. It was like coming full circle, but also digging deeper, as the characters themselves had deepened. I don't think I quite got that at the time, because I hadn't experienced many of those things myself. On one hand, I could appreciate the dark places that season 6 attempted with Buffy's depression, but it never hit home until I watched it earlier in the year, when I was feeling so many of the same things-- being overwhelmed, being numb, coping by avoiding. Those things that had caused me to yell "for Christ's sake, get it together!" were now me going, "ohhhhh, I get it now." And parts of season seven were like that for me.

Overall, I have a much less negative view than I did. There were some sagging parts in the middle, right around "Sleeper," but also a lot of good, too. The funny parts were really funny-- as I mentioned, the bazooka sight-gag in 'Him' will never not be hysterical. Wood explaining to Faith that he is, indeed, way prettier than her was one of my favorite moments of the series, bar none. There were standout episodes-- the showdown in 'Selfless' when Buffy declares she must kill Anya and Xander's great lie of S2 comes to light is one of the core moments in the show's history. Dawn's showdown with The First in 'Conversations With Dead People' creeped me out hardcore. I could list forever my favorite moments from this season-- "Gay me up, Willow!," Xander and Spike's shared glance when the chick in 'Beneath You' asks who hasn't slept together, Xander's extraordinary speech to Dawn at the end of 'Potential,' the Potentials' wonder as Buffy defeats the SuperVamp in 'Showtime.'

But overall, it was the arc about Power that got me. Each of the main characters had to confront their power, they had to choose whether or not to use it. Willow had to confront her grief over Tara and her fear of losing control in order to help others. Xander had to confront that being the glue that holds the group together means that he'd never be in the spotlight. Anya had to confront that being human means being willing to die for what's important. Buffy had to confront that being powerful means sharing power, not using it to shut herself off and push others away.

And ultimately, it was about getting back up again. I think the single most effective moment in the season, for me, was at the end of 'Bring on the Night,' when Buffy has had her ass kicked nearly to death by the SuperVamp. The makeup job was superb, as was SMG's acting. She looked cowed, small, scared. She nursed her wounds for awhile, she curled up and shut down and felt her fear. But when it counted, she got back up. And no matter how many times she got pummeled (because Christ knows, season 7 was the season that wherein Buffy got served), she got back up. Shaken, scared, but determined, too. And if I had to pick one lesson that being a Buffy fan has taught me, that'd be it.

Assorted other thoughts:

-- Andrew wasn't very funny on re-watch. I mean, the entirety of 'Storyteller' was spectacular, and he had some great lines, but in general, they overused him. Also, it's funny to me how Tom Lenk is like Andrew lite.

-- I never thought that I'd say I love Dawn. But I do. She got so smart and useful. Yay for growing up.

-- I expected more out of Faith, but overall, I was okay with how they handled her character. It showed that she's still on the path towards being whole, but she's not quite there yet. And that makes sense. I still want a Faith/Wood spinoff, though. Or a comic book. Or a mini-movie. Whatever.

-- I still don't care about Spike. At all. Well, except for that three-minute speech in 'Touched' wherein he gives Buffy that speech about her being a phenomenal woman. That did make me care. For a second.

-- Okay, I might get stoned for this one. I didn't hate Kennedy. I mean, she's still a bratty brat and kind of way too aggressive, but look at the alternatives. You've got Chloe hanging herself, Annabelle running off to get herself killed, Rona spouting off without being able to back it up, Vi simpering in the corner. Kennedy at least owned up to being a brat, and she could handle herself in a fight. She did a good job of stepping in when there was no one else available to do so. So yeah, she's a pain who got way too over the top sometimes. But then again, she's also young and brash. Not at all unlike a pre-evil Faith. I've got hope that Kennedy grows up to be way kick ass. Not with Willow, of course, because she's definitely a transitional girlfriend, but still. The character was kind of lopsidedly written. I've accepted that, and I can move on.

-- And tangent-- Iyari Limon, who plays Kennedy, is smokin'. She also auditioned for the part of Carmen on The L Word, and she was the runner-up to get the role. You know that Spanish utterance of "I want to lick you until you come in my mouth a thousand times" that Carmen says to Shane at the very beginning of season 3? The moment voted most likely to completely liquefy your panties? Oh yeah, that was an improv that Iyari came up with during her audition, and Ilene & Co. completely stole. Bottom line-- I'd fuck Iyari Limon in a heartbeat. Especially since she's actually gay, which means I've got a chance.

-- Every goddamn time I watch Anya get hewn in two, I gasp like it's the first time I've seen it. And Amanda! Noo, my favorite Potential! The one who deserved to live so much! Though Vi finally owning her power and kicking some serious ass made me cheer.

-- The waterworks started in Chosen the very instant that that little girl got up to bat.

-- Something about Sarah Michelle Gellar really bothers me. I mean, I think she did a wonderful job as Buffy. But on the other hand, she's on none of the special features. She did not attend the wrap party. She did not attend any of the PBParties. She's the lead, and she owes much of her fame to the show and its fans. But she didn't seem to take part in any of the familial bonds between cast and crew. What's up with that? It certainly makes the rumors of her being a hardcore bitch a little more believable.

So, overall, I've made my peace with the final season. Time to watch the commentary on 'Chosen.'